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elizabeth-cooper t1_j0uxsay wrote

Reply to comment by OrphanDad in Man Admits Fatally Beating Chinese Immigrant and Faces 20-Year Term by BaizuoStateOfMind

They let him plead guilty to manslaughter, which is a lesser charge.

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OrphanDad t1_j0uy4f1 wrote

I understand that was the plea deal, but it seems fucked up. Like what about this case would’ve been hard to prove in trial?

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BaizuoStateOfMind OP t1_j0vbq15 wrote

The prosecutor would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the attacker meant to kill her, not just attack her.

Plus, trials are a huge expense and Covid created a massive backlog. The DA’s office has no time to try cases.

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oreosfly t1_j0vuxjt wrote

Most cases end in pleas rather than trial. There is no such thing as a “slam dunk case”. DAs don’t want to face political blowback for losing “easy” cases (see OJ Simpson and Gil Garcetti), defendants don’t want to stare down the barrel of life in prison without parole.

That being said, 20 years for a 33 year old for murder is a disgrace.

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MeVersusShark t1_j1dblnq wrote

There are slam dunk cases, but they plead out. 17 is the going rate for a non-aggravated murder as I understand it.

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